why are oranges called oranges when in the caribbean and africa they are green when ripe?

Question

i have lived in both africa and the caribbean and oranges (along with lemons) are green when ripe

Answer 1

The word "orange" derives from Sanskrit "nāraṅgaḥ" "orange tree". Another explanation tries to establish a link to a Dravidian root “fragrant”.

The Sanskrit or Dravidian word was borrowed into European languages through Persian "nārang", Armenian "nārinj", Arabic "nāranj", (Spanish naranja and Portuguese laranja), Late Latin arangia, Italian arancia or arancio, and Old French orenge, in chronological order.

Oranges originated in southeast Asia. In a number of languages, it is known as a "Chinese apple" (e.g. Dutch Sinaasappel (China's apple)).

Answer 2

Interesting man... but what did the locals call those green oranges, I mean, in the native language? Maybe they had a different name for them?


I was also wondering if it might have something to do with the Dutch, and the House of Orange? They were great sailors, after all, maybe people from Holland were the first to bring Oranges back...

Very interesting factoid my friend... what puzzles me is what came first- the idea of the colour Orange, or the fruit Orange? Why aren't carrots called oranges? Hmm... I feel a question of my own brewing...

Answer 3

Huh? I also lived in the caribbean and have never seen a green orange when ripe.

Answer 4

Probably the first person, Adam, saw and orange it was an orange orange( haha) if you believe in Adam, orrrrr it could've been that they were going to rename the orange that wasn't orange color but they forgot, and they just loved calling the other orange orange, because it was the first, most common fruit that they called orange, They could've called a pepper orange, but they already have peepers that are green, yellow, and red, and the most common known pepper is red. No one on this earth can really know for sure why they called it an orange. ok, I hope I helped, =D Smile
Kaylee

Answer 5

Either they are green when ripe because they are a different breed of the fruit, or people in those countries prefer to eat them at a different stage in the plant development. Eating them when they are green is eating them at an earlier stage than those in most of the rest of the world like to. This could be a cultural/ ethnic food preference. I could also be related to the climate and what type of oranges grow there.

Answer 6

You're assuming the fruit was named after the colour. Maybe the colour was named after the fruit. And, maybe the variety of oranges that were first named oranges were either named after the colour, or that the colour was named after was a different variety of orange than the oranges in africa and the caribbean.
I like oranges.

Answer 7

because 'orange' isn't a magic word that means the same thing in every language? I presume there are a hundred different words (in the different languages) for this fruit in Africa.

By the way, it's called an African Orange IN ENGLISH. And yes, it is green.

Answer 8

You know what, I live in America and our oranges are orange when they're ripe. You're either really confused, or there's a different species of tree out there, or you're just trying to start sh!t on the YA forum. They're called oranges because they are, mostly, orange when ripe.

Answer 9

Maybe because they ARE orange when they are here. We aren't in the caribbean or Africa are we???

Answer 10

well ill be damned carribean and africa?... so ..is it..captain jack Spear-throw or what?...and well ..oranges are orange here pal..hence the name..and how would you feel if you went into the african umm grocery hut ..and asked for a bag of greens and they gave you salad....orange seems to work ok.